Willow Creek Trailhead

Posted On: 5/10/2020 By: stickmann
Info: Road is open all the way to the trailhead. No snow left. There is a short section about 0.3 miles before the trailhead that has some pretty big bumps/divots to navigate and might be difficult for low clearance vehicles until it is filled in.

Posted On: 3/1/2020 By: Unknown
Info: Gate closure still in effect 1 1/4 mile from TH. Bathrooms still open with TP. Muddy/icy in the beginning and variable conditions following to 10k. Backpacked in and booted to 11k at the head wall without needing snowshoes or traction. This will differ depending on the boots you use. Snow gets deeper after the creek crossing with limited water filter options. Turned around early due to several decisions

Posted On: 9/3/2019 By: JakeByk
Info: Definitely want clearance but good with AWD. There are some weird dips in the road 2/3rd the way up which are timed just perfectly that if you're not super careful you can bottom out. Closest I've come to bottom-out; I drive a Forester. There are bathrooms at the trailhead (bless).

Posted On: 6/3/2019 By: wintersage
Info: Ditto previous post. The dirt road is a little bumpy with some maybe-avoidable holes that might make it tough for 2WD, but it is generally mellow and accessible.

Posted On: 5/19/2019 By: clairekm
Info: Gate is open and the road is dry

Posted On: 2/11/2019 By: jscully205
Info: Theres a locked gate located about mile before of the summer TH parking lot. I pulled off to the side of the road and started there.

Posted On: 12/19/2018 By: mikefromcraig
Info: An average passenger car with decent tires could make it to the trailhead. The majority of the road is dry. The bathroom at the TH is unlocked.

Posted On: 8/6/2018 By: ibgordo
Info: Road to the trailhead is in very good shape. 2WD will make it with ease. The trail to Willow Lake is also in very good shape and completely clear. The bear that was raiding camp sites at Willow Lake was killed and removed by rangers on 8/3/18. Please continue to hang your food so this doesn't happen again...

Posted On: 7/1/2018 By: thurs
Info: It's definitely easy 2WD right now. I blazed up there in a low clearance minivan at a decent speed. At 10:30pm on a Friday there were still some spots. At 3pm on Saturday, there were no spots and people parked a good ways down the road. Keep that in mind. According to the register at the TH, the bear is still active and breaking into people's tents at Willow Lake!

Posted On: 6/30/2018 By: stratton42
Info: Made it easily in a Toyota Prius. There were some rocks/ruts that were easy to see and navigate around or straddle. There is an active bear near the willow lake campsites. The bear ripped my partners pad, tent and sleeping bag we assume because he was looking for food. My partner tore his site down before the assent thinking the bear would leave it alone if it were packed. I left my site set up and the bear left it alone. The bear is not afraid of people. We were able to chase it off by banging rocks or camp pots together. You MUST hang your food or bring a bear proof container.

Posted On: 6/25/2018 By: BenThom11
Info: Made it all the way in my Honda Civic with no difficulties. Many other low clearance cars were there too, including a mustang.

Posted On: 6/12/2018 By: apasquel
Info: Drove my Prius to TH...no problem. Any car can get up there.

Posted On: 5/1/2018 By: Yalegirl09
Info: 

Posted On: 8/27/2017 By: Thevirtualsherpa
Info: Bugs=dead. New toliet at TH, but quickly runs out of TP, so I would bring your own. You can easily get here in almost any car in the world, its essentially like driving down a dirt road. TH can fit about 30 cars and will fill up on busy weekends. Camping along road itself and a few scattered spots around TH. There is actually a really nice spot behind the bathroom which I used.

Posted On: 8/19/2017 By: sibyllec
Info: There is now a toilet at the trailhead.